Pipe milling device



June 22, 1943. R. B. KlNzBAcH PIPE MILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May l1, 1942 IVA 2 f www HU ,a A.. @Afm e M mm WK M m5. ,H .mi I .f Y 6 .M .//6 7 0 5 I Z no 3 3 2 46 a /w 5 f/ o/ 8 7? 2 z 3 55 33H4 /ww n wz z #f4/,w 757m 3 T f Y W ///V s /l//Jwl/f///H/NMM/lf IS I/ INV/ 4/5\ d ,w//rA/w wuwwaa (/J 2 37 572 34522 6 I ,vH/8787 4 I L M w a I.

June 22, 1943. R. B. KlNzBAcH 2,322,695

PIPE MILLING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1942 2 Sheets-shunt` 1?..

@Q6/iugm msu 25 Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE 'f 2,322,695 PIPE MILLTNG DEVICE Robert B. Kinzbach, Houston, Tex. 'Application May 11, 1942, serial No. 442,426

15 Claims.

Y This invention relates to a. miller and has for been proposed heretofore that a portion of a well casing may be removed along some predetermined zone within a well for thepurpose of producing iiuid from the well through the annular Window so formed or for some other purpose which may be desired. To this end Itools have been developed for severing and milling out zones of casing. Such a tool is set forth in my prior co-pending patent application vSerial No.\414,659, led October 11, 1941 and entitled Pipe cutter and reamer. It is to be understood that the words mill oiiniiller as used in this description and in the accompanying claims are intended to refer primarily to an operation and to a tool for performingE anoperation in which the entire pipe is cut; or milled away for a portion of its length, although, of course, the term also includes an operation which might sometimes be desirable in `vvhichvthe inner surface only of the pipe is cut or milled away.

During the use of a somewhat complicated tool such as is necessary when thepsame is to be used as a combined cutter and miller, it frequently becomes necessary to remove the tool for repairs or for a cementing operation or some other reason. After the removal of such tool it is undesirable to again run in the relatively complicated and expensive` cutting and milling or tool to perform What is merelyla milling operation, and in many instances the condition of -the well after the casing has been cut and part of it milled away by the nrst 'tool is not such as would make it possible for the first tool to be readilyreintroduced and operated again. It

is therefore desirable that a simpler tool be pro- Y vided for merely performing the milling operation. H 1

In view of the foregoing it isan object of this invention to provide a relatively simple positive acting milling tool capable of milling out a zone oi.' a casing in a well.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a. tool in; which the knives are moved into cutting position only upon contact of an actuating member forming part of the cutter with the upper end of the section of pipe to be Another object of the invention is `to provide a pipe cutter or miller having guides or stabilizers to maintain its alignment Within a pipe being cut.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the milling knife or knives will at all times be held in cutting position'by mechanical means as long as `the device is Vin position within an end of a section of casing.

Another object is to provide mechanical means for fully retracting and holding in retracted positionthe knife or` knives of sucha tool While it is being withdrawn from awell. n v

Another object of this invention is to provide such a tool in which the knife .or knives will not be moved outwardly toward cutting position unless such movement is voluntarily' initiated by the operator. v i

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character referredtoiin which'the movement of knife actuating members will be initiated by hydraulic action as a result of the operation of pumps in forcing fluid downwardly into the Well, but in which when the toolris in cutting position within a pipe or when itiswithin a pipe with the knives fully retractediiuid pre..n sure will not initiate the movement ofthe knives.

Other objects and advantages of Athis invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which oneembodiment is set forth by way of illustration.

In the drawings: Y

' Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through a device constructed in accordance with this invention showing the parts in the positions which they occupy While the tool is being lowered into or removed from a well.

' Fig. 2 is a similar view butshowing the vdevice within a partly milled Tsection ofl casing which is likewise in longitudinal crosssection, and in which the parts of the device are shown in th'eir active position Afor milling the pipe.

Fig. 3 is a side elevationof `the tool' shown in Figs. 1 and with the par position as illustrated in Fig.] 1. h l

Fig. 4 is atransverse cross section takenfalong the lines li-4 of Fig. 1`` Y Fig. 5 is a transverse `section line 5-`5 of Fig. l. v v AFig.6 is a transverse section takenalong the line li-S of Fig. 1. i

h taken along the Fig. 7 is a transverse section takenaipgjhei 1inel-'lofFig.1,and .E

ts in their inactive.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the numeral I indicates the lowermost section of a string of pipe on which the too-l constructed in accordance with this invention is operated. This pipe is threaded at its lower end to receive the upper end of a tting 2 having a cylindrical interior 3 for the purpose presently to be described. The main body 4 of the tool is threadedly secured at 5 to the lower end of the fitting 2.

Slidably mounted within the body 4 is a member which may be termed a wash pipe 6 and which serves the function not only of a wash pipe but of an actuating member as well. This wash pipe is provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 1 adjacent its lower end against which is placed a washer 8 adapted to receive the upper end of a spring 9., The lower end of this springbears against a nut I holding the spring so that the spring at all times urges the wash pipe toward its uppermost position.

Above the shoulder 1 the wash pipe is provided with an enlargement and this enlargement at one point of the circumference is provided with a slot `II which may be termed a keyway and which is adaptedto receive the inner end I2 of a setscrew I3 mounted in the body 4.l Thus, the wash pipe is prevented from rotating about its axis.

This same enlargement on the wash pipe .is provided with one or more (three are illustrated Yin the drawings) flat .sides having rack teeth I4 thereon adapted to receive pinion teeth I5 on the control arms IS which are pivotally mounted at I1 in slots I8 in thev body. Thus, as the wash pipe moves up and down these arms I3y will be swung upwardly or downwardly about their axes I1. Each one o the axes I1 .is in the form of a pin whichis inserted and then held in yplace within the body by means of a setscrew I3.

Above the portion of the wash pipe just described vand above the slots I8 in the body, the body is provided with additional sockets 2i) adapted to receive cutterblocks 2l which are inserted into the sockets fromrvthe exterior of the body. TheseA cutter blocks 2I are held in place by means of cap screws22 adjacent their lower` ends, which cap screws extend through the lower portions of these blocks and threadedly engage the body 4, and other cap screws 23 which eX- tend transversely through the blocks adjacent their upper ends. The blocks themselves are provided each with a circular guideway 24 extending from its inner upper end and opening outwardly through the blocks adjacent its lower end. These guideways are adaptedto receive cutter knives 25 which are of circular arcuate formation having their lower ends 26 provided with 'cutting edges. The knives are engaged'at their upper ends by driving blocks 21 which lare in turn mounted and heldin place in slots in the driving head v28 by means' of cap screws 29. The knives are alsotransversely slotted at 3B adja' cent their upper ends for the purposeof receiving `retracting pin portions 3in1 carried onL the opposite sides of the slots inthe driving head 28. Thus it will 'be seen zthatwhen the driving vhead is moved downwardly the blocks-.21 will bear against the upper ends of the knives 25 and force rthe knives downwardly toward the cutting positionl shown inFig. 2. When the driving head 28 is moved upwardly the vretracting pinsSIla will pulll* the knives upwardlyand inwardly ltothe position shown in Fig. 1.

The driving head 2a is mounted Within an enlarged portion of the bore of the body 4 and is carried on the lower end of a sleeve-like member 3| having a head 32 at its upper end. The driving head is prevented from rotation within the body 4 by means of splines 28a in the body 4 which engage within keyways in the driving head.- The member .3l is threaded at 33 to the driving head 28.

Surrounding the member 31| is a washer 34 which is disposed within the hollow portion of the body 4 and bears against an internal upwardly facing shoulder 35 in the body. This washer receives on its upper surface the lower end of the spring 36 which has its upper end bearing against the under surface of the head 32. Thus the spring 36 tends at all times to force the member 3| and the driving head 28 upwardly toward the position shown in Fig. 1.

Threadedly mounted on the upper end of the wash pipe .6 is a piston 31 `having a `packing 38 thereon, `this piston adapted .to slide upwardly and downwardly within the cylindrical interior of the fitting 2. As will be seen, this piston 3:1 is threaded to the upper end of `the wash `pipe atti! andthe joint betweenvthem is made leak proof by suitable means such asia sealing ring d0.- The piston-is larger than the wash pipe and hence when it is movedrdownwardly it will engage the lhead 32 and move it downwardly also. It will be noted further that the passageway through the pistonr31 and the wash pipe Ais much smaller than lthe passageway through -the.pipe I on which the ltool is carried and operated. :In operation, -the device illustrated in the drawings is lowered in-towthe well with the parts thereof in the position shown in Fig. 1. .If during the lowering of Ythe device into-the well but while it is still -within the casing it is -desired to pump downwardly fthrough the -tool this maybe done wit-houtlexpanding the knives because thevdownward `pressure lof the -fluid upon lthepiston y.il cannot move the-wash pipe 6 downwardly.- rIhis is true because'the arms 'I6 will, Vas soon as down# ward movement vo the Vwash pipe begins, come in contact withV the inner surface of thefcasing and prevent any further-movement of the wash p1pe- Afterv the device has reached the 'position of thev annular #window which has Apreviously been made 4in the casing asabove described and it is vdesiredV to expand Ythe knives :to Y milling 'sposition, the pump pressure willbe applied through the pipe vI to the piston 31 to move the 'wash pipedownwardl-y. This :movement willlnow-Abe permitted because the arms I6 `willebelocated in the opening whichhaspreviousl-ybeen formed in the casing-and these arms-may swing loutwardly and upwardly. v.The only? force opposing thel initial rdownward movement of Athe-'wash pipe is that presented by the spring- -9L The hydraulic pressure onV the'pistcn 31 will ordinarilybeemployedlm-erely for'lthe :purpose oit iorcing-lthe washvrpipe downwardly -untili this kpiston engages the head 32. This will start the arms I6 substantially along their Voutward swingv-As soon as the -arms I6 swing` outwardly.toanysubstantial extent .the dev-ice .may beloweredsinto :the lower portion 0f themseveredlcasing; which .portionvistobe. milled away. IContact of the, arms I6. :with the upper-K end4 ofthe pipe to .be .milled will Yaszthertool is lowered into.- thexpine-rotate these arms to theirnppermost position, thus;mo v. ing .the wash pipe'ftoA itsplowesmostpositionivnd forcing the ,knives outwardly to cutting position in a hole.

as shown in Fig. 2. The arms I6 will then engage the inner surface of this casing and be held in their inner and upper 'positions as illustrated in Fig. 2 so that they now serve to hold the vwash pipe down against the tension both of the spring 9 and of the spring 36. In holding the wash pipe down they obviously will mechanically retain the knives,v 25 in their expanded position.

.It is noted also that in as much as the arms I6 are all geared to the wash pipe, they are geared to each other through the wash pipe and will all project outwardly an equal amount at any specified time. They `will thus serve to center the cutter body within the pipe being cut.

, Thereafter the tool maybe rotated to mill away -the lower portion of the casingto whatever extent maybe desired and during this time fluid may be or may not be pumped through the tool depending upon the desires of the operator. In no` event` will the now or lack of flow of fluid through the tool effect the expanded position of the knives.

When the desired amount of milling has been completed the tool will merely be drawn `upwardly until the arms I6 move past the upper end of the milled casing, whereupon under the iniluence of the springs 9 and 3B the wash pipe, themernber 3|, and the driving head 28 will be moved upwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 1 andsimultaneously the knives 25 will be drawn upwardly land inwardly to their retracted position. l

It will be seen from theforegoing that a tool has; beenprovided which is relatively simplein construction and operation and is fool proof, `andwhich can be efficiently employed for the` purpose of milling `away a section of pipe; `The, device set forth is also capable` of carryingout all of the objects and advantages soughtiby this invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a pipe milling tool, a body, aknife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away,andvm,eans adapted to be inserted into the section of pipe to be milled away to engage the same and operatively connected to said knife to move it toward cutting position as said means is inserted into the pipe and to hold the knife in cutting position while said means is in said pipe.

2. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away, an actuator in said body movable in one direction to move said knife outwardly to cutting position, hydraulic means for so moving said actuating means, and mechanical means adapted to be expanded by said hydraulic means to engage a section of pipe to be milled away, said mechanical means being operatively connected to said actuator to move the same in a direction to move said knife to cutting position as said mechanical means is moved into a pipe to be milled away.

3. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away, a mechanical knife actuator adapted to engage the upper end of a section of pipe to be milled away and to be moved into said section to move the knife to cutting position, and hydraulic means for moving said actuator to an initial position to engage the upper end of said section of pipe to be milled away.

substantially 4. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife a mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to bek milled away, a wash pipe carried in said body and movable downwardly with respect thereto to eX- pand said knife, a lever connected to said wash pipe and mounted in said body for swinging movement with respect to said body, said lever being adapted to engage with the upper end of a pipe to bemilled away to move said wash pipe longitudinally with respect to said body as said body is `inserted into the pipe to be milled away, and means on said wash pipe for causing movement of said knife toward cutting position upon such movement of said wash pipe.

5. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section oi' pipe to be milled away, a wash pipe carried by said body and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, said wash .pipe having a rack carried thereby, a lever pivotally carried by said body and having pinion teethy engaging said rack and a portion adapted to project from said body and engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away,

whereby when said body is moved into a section of pipe to be milled away said lever may engage said section of pipe and cause longitudinal movement of said wash pipe with respect to said body, and means on said wash pipe adapted to cause outward movement of said knives to cutting posi.- tion upon longitudinal movement of the wash pipe. f

6. In a pipe i milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away, a wash pipe longitudinally movable with respect to said body, a lever carried by said body and engage'able-by said wash pipe adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly upon downward movement of said wash pipe, hydraulic means for causing van initial downward movement of said wash. pipe, and a lost motion connection between lever will 'engage the upper end of a pipe to bev milled away before downward vmovement of said wash pipe will cause outward movement of said knife and subsequent downward movement of said body will cause said lever to act against the upper end of the pipe to be milled away to cause complete expansion of said knife as said body enters the pipe to be milled away.

7. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away, a wash pipe adapted to be moved downwardly with respect to said body, a sleeve surrounding said wash pipe, a shoulder on said wash pipe adapted to engage the upper end of said sleeve after an initial downward movement of said wash pipe to cause said sleeve thereafter to move downwardly with said wash pipe, and means connecting said sleeve and said knife to produce outward movement of said knife upon downward movement of said sleeve.

8. In a pipe milling tool, a body, a knife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to be milled away, a wash pipe carried by said body and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, lost motion means connecting said wash pipe and said knife whereby downward movement of said' washA pipe will `cause outwardmovementof said knife, and independent'meansforseparat'e-l ly urging saidwash pipe upwardly and-said knife inwardly.

9. In a pipe milling tool,- al bodfyf,Y ak knife mounted on the body for outwardtradial move ment to engage the endl of'a section of pipe to be milled away, a wash pipe carried by saidk body and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, lost motion means connectingy said wash pipe and said knife whereby downward movement of said wash pipe will cause outward movement. of

said knife, and independent springs constantly urging said wash pipe upwardly and said knife inwardly.

10. In a pipe milling tool, a body, aknife mounted on the body for outward radial movement to engage the end of a section of pipe to-be milled away, a mechanical knife actuator carried by said body and adapted to engage the upper end o1" a section of pipe tobe milled away and to be moved into said sectionto move the knife outwardlytovcutting position, and means for movingV said actuator to an initial position,y to engage the upper end of said section of pipey cause outward movement oi ,saidV knife, and in-v dependent means fory separately urging; said elongated memberY upwardly and. said knife inwardly. i

i2. An apparatus a pipe comprising a body insertable in said pipe through the end to be milled away, a knife mounted on the body for outward movement, and means carried by the body and engageable with the end of the'pipe tok be milled away, as

the body is inserted thereinfor moving the knife outwardly into a position to engage the end of the pipe as the body is further inserted into the end of said pipe and-for retaining said knife in said outward position.l

for milling away the end of' 13.- An apparatusl for' milling away theA upper end ofv a lowerl severed section of pipe. inl a well',y

comprisingv a'body adapted to be lowered through an Aupper section' of pipe and inserted intok thev lowerv section through theupper end of the latter, a knife mounted on` the body for outward movement, knife actuating means: carried'byI thef body below the knife4 and engageable withf the' inner surface of the upper section to prevent outward movement of said knife, said means being' engageable with the upper' end of the lower section ofv pipe as the'k body isloweredv therein for moving the knife,Y outwardly.

14; An. apparatusfor milling. away the upper' end of' alower severedV sectionof pipe in a well,l

comprising" a body adapted tobe loweredfthrough an upper section'. of pipe. andv inserted into the lower section through .the upper end of' the latter, a knife mountedlon, the body for outward movement, and knife' actuating means* operablewhile the body is being-v loweredthroughthe upper section to prevent outward movement ofl the knife, and operable during movement' betweenv he adjacent ends of? said' upper and'lower pipe i sections'. for'v movement to a position to engage the upper end of the" lower section: and thereby move-the knife outwardly.

l5. Anv apparatusfor millin'gawayv the upper endet-the lower oftwo verticallyr axially spaced2 sections of pipe in a-wel1,v comprising' abody` adapted? tol be lowered: throughl anA upper sectionof pipe and inserted into the lower" sectionl through the upper end of the latter, a knife mounted on the body forV outward' movement,

knifeactuating means carried by the body below the knife and engageable with) the innerA surface` of the upper sectionl topreventloutwardmovement of saidknife, andy means-urgingl said@ actuati'ng.- means outwar'dly wherebyv said actuating` means willy be displaced; outwardly beyondl i the inner surface of the pipe as=it= is passed' downwardly through Athe space between said sections of pipe and engage the upper end`v o'f the lower section upon further downwardmovementf of the body to move the knife outwardly into a positionto mill thefupper'end of the lower sec'- tion.

ROBERT B; KINZBACH. 

